Half to william h



S. HUGHES. TOILET PAPER CASE.

(No Model.)

No. 550,020. Patented Nov; 19, 1895.

AN liiREW BZGRANAM. PMOTO-U'INVOWASNINGI'DN. D10.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL HUGHES, OF OHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO WILLIAM H. RICHARDSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TOILET-PAPER CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,020, dated November 19, 1895.

Application filed July 26, 1895. Serial No. 557,241. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HUGHES, a resident of Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Oarolina,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toilet-Paper Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in toilet-paper cases or packages, the object being to provide simple and efficient means for retaining a package of toilet-paper in place and automatically feeding it forward as it is removed, so that the sheets of paper may be readily grasped and removed from the case.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the combination with a case or receptacle of a flexible support for the case and for the package of toilet-paper contained therein, said support being so constructed and ar ranged as to operate to force the contained paper forwardly and against the opening through which the sheets of paper are removed.

My invention further consists in certain other features of improvement, as willbe hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation with a portion of the case removed in order to show the flexible support.

A represents the case, which is preferably made of paper or cardboard and is of any desired shape and construction. The upper end of the case is provided with a flap or cover a, which may be secured in place by any suitable catch or fastening b. The lower end of the case is cut away to form an opening B, through which the sheets of toilet-paper O are removed. A cord D passes down through the cover or flap near one of its ends and diagonally through the case in rear of the package of toilet paper contained therein, and at the lower end of the case the cord is brought forward to the front lower corner and passed downwardly through the same and then rearwardly and upwardly through the bottom of the case and across the same to the opposite side, where it is passed downwardly through the bottom and then brought forwardly and then upwardly through the opposite corner and then rearwardly beneath the package and upwardly and diagonally in rear of the same and through the flap or cover, where the two ends of the cord are united.

The case or package of toilet-paper is sus- 6o pended from a hook or nail by the loop E, formed on the upwardly-projecting ends of the cord D, and thus the cord'is subjected to sufficient tension to cause its portions F F within the case and in rear of the package of toilet-paper to assume the form of an inclined support at the opposite sides of the lower end of the package. These cords serve to force the papers forwardly against the front wall of the case, so that the sheets maybe readily 7o removed, being firmly retained in place while grasped by the hand. The cords act as an automatic clamp for the contained package of paper, holding the package of paper tightly with the lower end of the package beveled or inclined, so as to facilitate the grasping of a single sheet at atime, if desired. It will be seen that when the lower front edge of the package of paper is grasped between the finger and thumb and pulled downwardly to withdraw a sheet .the package of paper will be forced more tightly against the front of the case, and the more pressure which is brought to bear (endwise) on the package of paper the tighter it will be clamped and the more inclined or beveled the lower end of the package of paper will become, thus greatly facilitating the withdrawal of single sheets.

When toilet-paper is contained in a paste board box or case and the latter placed in an upright position, the paper, being very light and incapable of supporting its own weight, will be very apt to double up and fall if some means be not provided to prevent it, and this is especially true when a portion of the paper 5 shall have been Withdrawn. By my improvements the paper will be kept close against the front face of the case until all the sheets shall have been withdrawn, and the cord which acts as the clamp for this purposeis auto- Ioo matic in operation. No springs are employed, and the cord or clamp derives its power to clamp the paper solely from the weight of the package.

Instead of using a cord, a wire or other flexible device may be employed.

My improvement is very simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a case or package for toilet paper, of a flexible device passing through the ease and between which and a part of the case the paper is held, said flexible device secured at its lower end and constituting a support for the case, substantially as set forth.

2. In a case or package for toilet paper, a flexible device passing through the case behind the paper therein, then forwardly under the lower edge of the package of paper and suspended at the upper end on a nail or hook, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with. a case having an opening in its front and. bottom and adapted to contain toilet paper, of a cord or other flexible device passing through the top of the casing behind the toilet paper therein, then under the bottom of the package of paper near both edges thereof, the free upper ends of the cord being secured together to form a loop, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a case having an opening in its front and bottom and adapted to contain toilet paper, of a cord passing loosely through the top of the case near both edges thereof, said cord also passing downwardly through the casin g diagonally and be hind the package of paper therein and at the lower end of the ease, passing under the bottom of the package of paper, the free upper ends of the cord being secured together to form a loop, substantially as set forth.

In. testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL HUGHES.

\Vitnesses:

1L (1. HUGHES, THos. F. lIANoooK. 

